Wild Zone (Rough Riders Hockey 4)

“No…” Lexi whispered the word in dread and pulled off her Bluetooth.

She let her stare blur over the page in her sketchbook where she’d been doodling. Dammit. All the bubbling excitement slowly cooled to a simmer. Then went flat.

A stuntman.

He would know her clients. She’d already told him her first name. Already told him she was a dress designer. Already told him she lived in LA. Those three pieces of information entered into Google would tell him all there was to know about her if he cared to search deep enough.

“Shit.” She should have known better than to try to play this game.

Stupid.

Her cell vibrated in her hand, and Lexi started.

JAX: Lexi? Did I lose you at stuntman?

Lexi swallowed and slipped on the Bluetooth again.

LEXI: Sorry. So you’re in the movie industry. Do you act too?

She closed her eyes, and disappointment came down heavy on her shoulders. He was funny, easygoing, quick, and clever. It might be pathetic, but she was having more fun in these twenty minutes of texting with Jax than on too many of her real dates.

JAX: No acting. I do the hard, dirty, crazy work while the actors lounge in their trailers. Best possible job—but don’t tell anyone. It’s a secret. Do you have issues with the industry?

Lexi bit her lip and answered honestly.

LEXI: I know as much about the movie industry as you do about dress design. I don’t even own a television. I like movies, but I don’t have time to go. I haven’t been to one in forever.

JAX: You’re shitting me.

LEXI: Last movie I saw in theaters was…hold on, have to think…oh, Into the Blue.

JAX: Into the Blue. The scuba movie?

LEXI: Yes. With Paul Walker and Jessica Alba. My friend, the one who wrote this program, has it bad for Paul Walker.

JAX: Lexi…that movie was released in 2005!

She laughed softly. She liked this side of him. He’d lightened up since they’d started texting. At least she’d helped with his tension, not added to it.

LEXI: Exactly. I have to say your end of the business sounds the most fascinating. I imagine it’s challenging? Fun as hell? Let me guess—you’re an adrenaline junkie.

JAX: Yes. Yes. And definitely. Why don’t you come sit with me? I’d love to hear more about your plans while you’re in New York.

Lexi closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. Regret and anger surged beneath her ribs. This offer felt as important to her personal life as the offer of her design

s on the May cover of every bridal magazine would to her business. And she felt trapped against taking it. She knew what Rubi would say if she were here, but Lexi also knew she wasn’t Rubi. She didn’t have a trust fund to fall back on. She couldn’t live her life however she pleased without any repercussions on her business.

LEXI: Another time, another place, I might take you up on that. But right now, you’re a little too tempting for my blood. The offer is…difficult to turn down.

JAX: Too tempting? Is there such a thing?

LEXI: You’re proof. I’m not up for any involvement at this stage of my life and I can see…even from a distance…it would be plenty difficult not to want to get up close and personal with you.

JAX: I’ll admit, that was my hope—you wanting to get up close and personal, not being too tempting.

“Ah, hell,” she muttered. “Don’t tell me that.”

LEXI: You don’t even know what I look like. How can you make that kind of statement?